A view of the splendidly equipped troop at Unadilla, N.Y.We occasionally plug in the term "Unadilla Scouts" to see what the search engines cough up and this time we hit on an article in the December 1915 issue of Boys' Life magazine depicting the boys of our Troop 1 as a "splendidly equipped scout fire auxiliary." Here's what the article had to say:
"Troop 1, of Unadilla, N.Y. has the distinction of possessing what is probably the best equipped auxiliary fire apparatus of any troop in the country. They are organized as a regular auxiliary to the Unadilla Fire department. Their scoutmaster, Yale Lyon, has been chaplain of the two fire companies in Unadilla for the past five years. He owns a fire wagon and two horse carts, which he turned over to the members of his troop for their use.
The duty of this scout fire auxiliary is to go with supplies for the regular firemen in case of fire. The are not expected to take any active part unless in a great emergency, or in any way not directed by the firemen.
Unadilla scouts have had a great many drills and exhibitions and are proficient in handling the apparatus. So far, however, the scouts have not had an opportunity to put their equipment and training to a real test at a large fire. But the boys are confident that they would be able to give a good account of themselves should the occasion require."
Today, the youngest members of the Unadilla Fire Department are organized as BSA Post 1 Unadilla and are trained and equipped much the same as the adults. "We still don't let them fight building fires but they do serve in other essential ways," says Advisor Ken Mazzone.
My father, Richard Raitt, was among the first members of what began as the Lion Patrol not long after it was founded. He told stories of his association with Rev. Lyon as a member of his church and a member of the Patrol. He also told of being associated with the volunteer fire department, but he did not mention the connection between the troop and the fire company.
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